Foldable product display stand

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a foldable, light-weighing, easily-assembled display stand with lower production and labor costs, formed by easily mountable-dismountable cardboard, paperboard, rubber or plastic-based parts for use in displaying items of various type and size at shopping malls, supermarkets, stores, shops, fairgrounds, etc.

RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a foldable, light-weighing, easily-assembled display stand with lower production and labor costs, composed of easily mountable-dismountable cardboard, paperboard, rubber or plastic-based parts for use in displaying items of various type and size at shopping malls, supermarkets, stores, shops, fairgrounds, etc.

2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98.

Displaying goods is one of the most widely-used methods used for introduction and marketing. Thus, displaying the products allows customers to directly see and scrutinize them. This also enhances the appeal of a product. Display stands according to the prior art are made of metal- and plastic-based materials. They are produced in different size and forms in line with the types and size of products to be displayed.

The current production of stands made of metal-based materials is quite laborious and costly. Longer production periods of metal stands not only lengthen their lead time, but enhance their labor and production costs as well. Other facts that metal raw materials are expensive and not easily-processed render suchlike stands producible only by trained staff or firms qualified in this field.

Display stands made of plastic-based materials, in turn, are produced by means of methods such as plastic injection and the components obtained are then assembled to yield the final form of stand. Making use of plastic injection method for producing stand components lowers down production costs as compared to the case of metal stand production, but when the stands are disassembled it becomes problematic to store their components. Additionally, production via plastic injection can only be performed by companies having plastic injection machinery and moulds. Being of light-weight as compared to metal stands, these stands, however, are not foldable. Like metal stands, they occupy large spaces when they are disassembled. Considering the space occupied by each component of disassembled stands makes it clear that the space requirement increases with stands having relatively more components. This fact leads both to storing- and transporting-related problems.

In addition, advertising and promotional information are printed on display stands. Suchlike advertising and promotional information produced by printing, however, cannot be seen exactly by customers, thereby reducing the effect aimed on customers. In order to avoid this, visual components such as posters, and advertisements are attached to stands. Such posters and advertising materials, however, do wear, fade, tear and lose their function in time.

No patent application has been found in relation to a foldable display stand according to the patent search made. A utility model application 2005/01665 filed at the Turkish Patent Institute relates to a stand for displaying and storing goods to be displayed, comprising at least one receptacle member coupled to displayed goods, into which the latter are put, and at least one display aperture on the receptacle member.

Another utility model application 2008/02605 filed at the Turkish Patent Institute, in turn, relates to a display stand for storing, displaying and putting up for sales solid food products with granular structure, such as dry legumes and dried nuts and fruits, under hygienic conditions, without being affected from the outer environment and for both illuminating and keeping warm such food products with an illumination on the stand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention to develop a foldable, light-weighing, easily-assembled display stand with lower production and labor costs, composed of easily mountable-dismountable cardboard, paperboard, rubber or plastic-based components for use in displaying goods of various type and size at shopping malls, supermarkets, stores, shops, fairgrounds, etc., in order to eliminate the drawbacks encountered in the prior art.

The advantages provided with the foldable display stand according to the present invention are listed below:

Raw material costs (inputs) for the stand are substantially reduced by producing the subject foldable display stand from materials like cardboard, paperboard, rubber, etc..

Labor costs are reduced, together with the reduction in raw material (input) costs.

The need towards expensive and complex plastic injection machines and metal-processing machines for stand production is eliminated. The need for qualified staff is also eliminated.

Production times are shortened, thus lead times are reduced.

The body and side wings of the stand are made to be easily foldable, so that the space occupied by the stand when not used is minimized and its transportation is facilitated. The folding operation can be made by anyone in an easy manner.

The stand's advertising and promoting efficiency is enhanced by visual elements applied thereto by means of offset printing, etc., so that the stand and the products displayed thereon are made more appealing to the eye.

Relevant environmental pollution risks are completely prevented by producing the subject foldable display stand from recyclable materials (paper, cardboard, etc.).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a foldable product display stand.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the foldable product display stand.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an illustration of the foldable product display stand in opened form.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an illustration of the foldable product display stand in folded form.

FIG. 5 is an elevation view of a front illustration of the rear wall and side walls making up the foldable product display stand in disassembled form.

FIG. 6 is an opened plan elevation view of a product display shelf.

FIG. 6 a is a perspective view of an illustration of components making up the product display shelf.

FIG. 6 b is a perspective view of an illustration of rubber connection members providing the connection between the product display shelf and the walls.

FIG. 6 c is a perspective view of an illustration showing how the product display shelf is folded.

FIG. 6 d is a perspective view of an illustration showing how the product display shelf is folded.

FIG. 6 e is a perspective view of an illustration of the product display shelf in folded form.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

1. Foldable product display stand

2. Rear wall

2.1 Horizontal folding line

3. Handle

4. Side wall

5. Shelf

6. Side wing

7. Connection member

8. Connection hole

9. Upper lug

10. Folding line of upper lug

11. Vertical folding line

12. Horizontal folding line

13. Side lug

14. Shelf connection slot

15. Connection hole

16. Folding line of side lug

17. Folding line of side wing

18. Body

19. Shelf folding line

20. Shelf connection protrusion

21. Side wing lug

22. Folding line of the side wing lug

23. Notch piece

24. Notch piece folding line

25. Rubber notch

26. Rubber member passage hole

27. Shelf front lug

28. First folding line

29. Second folding line

30. Fastening hole

31. Side connection plate

32. Fastening hole

33. Rubber member

34. Lower connection plate

35. Rubber hole

36. Rubber member

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention relates to a foldable, light-weighing, easily-assembled product display stand (1) with lower production and labor costs, composed of easily mountable-dismountable cardboard, paperboard, rubber or plastic-based parts for use in displaying items of various type and size at shopping malls, supermarkets, stores, shops, fairgrounds, etc..

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the foldable display stand (1) in general terms comprises a rear wall (2), two side walls (4) easily mounted/dismounted to this rear wall (2), shelves (5) assembled to the rear wall (2) and side walls (4), and a handle (3) formed on the upper part of the rear wall (2), allowing to easily hold and carry the stand. Except some connection members, the rear wall (2), side walls (4), and the shelves (5) are made from completely recyclable paper-based materials (cardboard, paperboard, etc.). Additionally, the rear surfaces of the rear wall (2), side walls (4) and the shelves (5) are provided with visual materials for advertising and promotion formed by means of printing.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of the components making up the foldable product display stand (1) in a disassembled form. As illustrated therein, side lugs (13) are formed at the sides of the rear wall (2). Connection holes (15) are formed at certain intervals on the side lugs (13). Side lugs (13) can be moved to perform a folding (rotation) movement around the folding lines (16) of the side lug. Additionally, horizontal folding lines (2.1) are formed on the rear wall (2). The number of horizontal folding lines (2.1) is preferably two. The number of horizontal folding lines (2.1) and side lug folding lines (16) can also be increased or reduced according to the type and size of products to be displayed. Mutual shelf connection slots (14), two for each shelf (5), are formed at certain intervals along the height of the rear wall (2).

Side walls (4) have the same structure with each other. At the upper region of side walls (4) are formed upper lugs (9), which can be moved to make a folding movement around the folding lines (10) of the upper lugs. When desired, the side walls (4) can be folded around a vertical folding line (11) (during a stand assembly). As a result of this folding, the width of side walls (4) is reduced to its half size. Similarly, horizontal folding lines (12) are formed on the side walls (4) to be in alignment with a horizontal folding line (2.1) of the rear wall (2). In a preferred embodiment according to the present invention, preferably two horizontal folding lines (2.1, 12) are each formed on the rear wall (2) and side walls (4). This number can optionally be increased or decreased.

The assembly of the rear wall (2) and side walls (4) is performed by superimposing the connection holes (15) provided respectively on the side lugs (13) and side walls (4) and then by passing connection members (7) through these holes (15). The connection member (7) may be a screw made of a plastic-based material. FIGS. 3 and 4 clearly illustrate the connection members (7). Connection members (7) are used only for assembling the rear wall (2) to the side walls (4). They are further used to assembly the shelves (5) to the side walls (4) (see FIG. 4).

FIG. 6 is an opened plan view of a product display shelf (5). The shelves (5) comprise a body (18) foldable around a shelf folding line (19). Side wings (6) are formed at both sides of the body (18). The side wings (6) can be folded around folding lines (17) of the side wing. Side wing lugs (21) are formed on one edge of the side wings (6). The side wing lugs (21) can be moved to perform a rotation movement around folding lines (22) provided on the side wing lug. The other edge of the side wings (6) is provided with a notch piece (23). The notch piece (23) can be folded around a notch piece folding line (24). Preferably two rubber notches (25) are formed on the notch piece (23).

The central part of the shelf (5), in turn, is provided with two shelf connection protrusions (20). These shelf connection protrusions (20) are fitted to shelf connection slots (14) provided at the rear wall (2), such that the connection between the shelves (5) and the rear wall (2) is ensured.

A shelf front lug (27) is formed on the front of the shelf (5). The shelf front lug (27) can be folded around a first folding line (28) and a second folding line (29).

Some plastic- and rubber-based extra equipment is used for producing the shelves (5) and they are then folded accordingly. Detailed information is provided below for these equipment and operations.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, a side connection plate (31), preferably made of a plastic material, is used during the production of shelves (5) and particularly for bringing the side wings (6) to a vertical position with respect to the body (18) and for keeping it stable in this position. Two rubbers (33) are passed through the slots provided at the two ends of the side connection plate (31) and then through the fastening holes (32) formed on the plate. As a result of this operation, the appearance of the side connection plate (31) turns out to be the one depicted in FIG. 6 b.

Similarly, a lower connection plate (34) is used, that is mounted onto the shelves (5) as the latter is formed. Two rubbers (36) are passed first through the slots provided at the lower connection plate (34) and then through the fastening holes (35). As a result of these operations, the appearance of the lower connection plate (34) turns out to be the one illustrated in FIG. 6 b.

Following the operations above, the shelf front lug (27) is folded by means of the first folding line (28) and the side connection plate (31) is mounted to the lower part of the shelf front lug (27), as illustrated in FIG. 6 c. Following this operation, the shelf body (18) is folded into two by means of the shelf folding line (19). Finally, the side wings (6) of the shelf (5) are folded so as to come to a vertical position with respect to the body (18) by means of the side wing folding lines (17). Following this operation, the rubber members (33) provided on the side connection plate (31) are fitted to the rubber notches (25) provided on folded side wings (6) by means of side wing folding lines (17), so that the side surfaces of the shelf (5) are closed (see FIG. 6 e). These rubbers (33) also assist to fold the shelf (5) as the display stand is transported.

As illustrated in FIG. 6 c, the rubbers (36) of the lower connection plate (34) are passed through rubber member passage holes (26) provided on the body (18). After the body (18) is folded, the lower connection plate (34) remains in the interior of the folded body (18), and the rubbers (36) extend outwards from the lower part of the body (18). As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the rubbers (36) of the lower connection plate (34) are fitted to the connection members (7) fastened onto the side walls (4), so that the shelves (5) are mounted onto the side walls (4) in a foldable manner.

The side wings (6) of the shelves (5) are fastened to the inner side of side walls (4) by means of connection members (7). The external side of the side wings (6) of the shelves (5) makes contact with the inner side of the side walls (4), such that the shelf-side wall connection is made by means of connection members (7) passed through the connection holes (8) on the side wings (6). 

1. A foldable product display stand for use in displaying items of various type and size at shopping malls, supermarkets, stores, shops, fairgrounds, and other retail locations, comprising: a rear wall, two side walls mounted to said rear wall, and shelves assembled to the rear wall and side walls, wherein side lugs are formed at the sides of the rear wall, the side lugs being foldable by side lug folding lines, the side lugs and side walls being fastened to each other by connection members, wherein shelf connection protrusions are formed on shelves and shelf connection slots are formed at certain intervals along a height of the rear wall so as to correspond to said shelf connection protrusions, wherein foldable side wings of the shelves are mounted onto the side walls by connection members so that the outer sides of side wings make contact with the inner sides of side walls, and wherein the shelves are mounted to the side walls in a foldable manner, by fastening respective rubber members fitted to a lower connection plate mounted onto the shelf body to respective connection members provided on the side walls.
 2. The foldable product display stand according to claim 1, further comprising: horizontal folding lines formed on the rear wall for folding the the rear wall.
 3. The foldable product display stand according to claim 1, wherein connection holes are formed at certain intervals on the side lugs of the rear wall for fitting the connection members thereto.
 4. The foldable product display stand according to claim 1, further comprising: a handle, formed on the upper part of the rear wall, allowing to easily hold and carry the display stand.
 5. The foldable product display stand according to claim 1, wherein upper lugs are formed at the upper region of side walls, said upper lugs being rotatable to make a folding movement around respective upper lug folding lines.
 6. The foldable product display stand according to claim 1, wherein the side walls can optionally be folded around a vertical folding line while the stand is assembled.
 7. The foldable product display stand according to claim 1, wherein horizontal folding lines are formed on the side walls to be in alignment with a horizontal folding line of the rear wall.
 8. The foldable product display stand according to claim 1, further comprising: connection holes formed on the side walls so as to correspond to other connection holes provided on the side lugs.
 9. The foldable product display stand according to claim 1, wherein screws comprised of a plastic-based material are preferably used as said connection members.
 10. The foldable product display stand according to claim 1, further comprising: connection holes provided on the side lugs of the shelves for fitting said connection members into said holes.
 11. The foldable product display stand according to claim 1, wherein a side wing lug is formed on one side of the side wings of the shelves and wherein a notch piece is formed on the other side of said side wings.
 12. The foldable product display stand according to claim 1, wherein said notch piece can be folded around a notch piece folding line and is provided with rubber notches thereon.
 13. The foldable product display stand according to claim 1, wherein a shelf front lug is formed at the front of the shelf and wherein said shelf front lug is foldable around a first folding line and a second folding line.
 14. The foldable product display stand according to claim 1, wherein, after the shelf front lug is folded around the first folding line, a side connection plate is mounted to the lower part of said shelf front lug.
 15. The foldable product display stand according to claim 1, wherein, after said side connection plate is mounted, the body is folded into two by the shelf folding line and finally the side wings of the shelf are folded to come to a vertical position with respect to the body by side wing folding lines.
 16. The foldable product display stand according to claim 1, wherein, after the side wings are folded in a vertical manner with respect to the body, the rubber members attached to the side connection plate are fitted to rubber notches provided on the side wings.
 17. The foldable product display stand according to claim 1, wherein the rubber members fitted to the lower connection plate are passed through rubber member passage holes provided on the body.
 18. The foldable product display stand according to claim 1, wherein the rear wall, side walls, and the shelves are produced from completely recyclable paper-based materials.
 19. The foldable product display stand according to claim 1, wherein visual elements for advertising and promotion are provided at the rear surface of the rear wall, side walls, and of the shelves by printing. 